Kirche am Steinhof ("Church of St. Leopold")

„Und ist es nicht eine hübsche Ironie des Schicksals, dass so ziemlich das erste vernünftige sezessionistische Gebäude großen Stils in Wien für die Irrsinnigen gebaut worden ist?“

"And isn't it a nice twist of fate that just about the first equitable secessionist building grand style in Vienna was built for the insane?"

(Neue freie Presse, 1907)

I consider this panorama my best of 2010 - not because of technical or artistic reasons but because of the pure beauty of this building.

Designed by Otto Wagner with artwork by Koloman Moser and Othmar Schimkowitz, the figural properties on display have become a synonym for a whole age with aesthetic references that continue to have an effect till today.

Although this church is one of the most famous Art Noveau churches in the world, it is not overrun by tourists—certainly because it is located at the outer rim of Vienna as part of the Steinhof hospital complex (originally built as an asylum) and not very easy to reach.

The church was extensively renovated (just for the cupola, 2 kg of gold leaf were applied) to its original state and re-opened in 2006.

Read more about this building here.

Europe / Austria

Lat: 48° 12' 37" N
Long: 16° 16' 42" E

→ maps.google.com [EXT]

Precision is: Medium. Nearby, but not to the last decimal.

Nikon D700, Zenitar 16mm Fisheye, stitched with PTGui